Phlox plant named ‘Red Caribbean’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Red Caribbean’, particularly distinguished by bright red-colored flowers, compact habit, healthy foliage, and good mildew resistance, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Phlox paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘Red Caribbean’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Red Caribbean’. The new cultivar originated from an open pollination in 2006 in a nursery location in Haarlem, The Netherlands between unknown male and female Phlox paniculata plants.

The new cultivar was selected from the results of the open pollination in 2007 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands since the summer of 2007, has shown that the unique features of the Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Haarlem, The Netherlands:

-   -   1. Bright red-colored flowers;     -   2. Compact habit;     -   3. Healthy foliage; and     -   4. Good mildew resistance.

Of the many commercially available Phlox cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Latest Red’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Red Caribbean’ differ from plants of ‘Latest Red’ by having healthier foliage, thicker stems, and a sturdier, more compact plant habit. Additionally, ‘Red Caribbean’ flowers more evenly and earlier in the season with flowers that have a richer color than those of ‘Latest Red’.

In addition, plants of the new cultivar ‘Red Caribbean’ are similar to ‘Piña Colada’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,968. However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Red Caribbean’ differ from plants of ‘Piña Colada’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Red Caribbean’. The plant was grown for approximately 1 year in a 1.5-liter container in Haarlem, The Netherlands in an outdoor nursery location.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side view of the overall growth and habit of ‘Red Caribbean’.

The photograph on the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of the inflorescence of ‘Red Caribbean’.

The photograph on the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Red Caribbean’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken in September on 1-year-old plants in 1.5 liter containers which were planted and grown outdoors in daytime temperatures between 12° C. and 32° C. and nighttime temperatures between 4° C. and 16° C. No pinching, growth retardants or photoperiodic treatments were used. Observations were made when the plants were in natural daylight conditions.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata cultivar ‘Red Caribbean’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unknown Phlox paniculata.         -   Male parent.—Unknown Phlox paniculata. -   Plant description:     -   -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial. Overall shape: Narrow inverted             triangle. High temperature tolerance: Tolerant to at least             35° C. Low temperature tolerance: Hardy to at least USDA             Zone 4.         -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 25 weeks from rooted             cutting to finish in a 1.5 liter container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Upright, low to             moderately vigorous.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 31.3 cm. Width: Approximately 14.3 cm. Rate of             growth: In spring, approximately 7 cm per month.         -   Branching habit.—Low to moderate basal branching; pinching             will improve basal branching; flowering stems grow from             base. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 3             flowering stems.         -   Stem.—Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect.             Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 23.7 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous, slightly glossy.             Color of young stems: N186C. Color of mature stems: 146B to             146C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per stem:             Approximately 20. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.             Durability to stress: High.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Narrow elliptic, very slightly carinate.             Margin: Slightly wavy, slightly revolute, very short and             finely serrate with approximately 30 teeth per cm. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 2.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage:             143A to 143B; margins heavily flushed with N187A with             venation of 144B to 144C. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: 144B; margins heavily flushed with N187A with             venation of 146D. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:             137A with venation of 144B to 144C. Color of lower surface             of mature foliage: 146B to 147B with venation of 146D.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Height: Approximately 2.5 mm.             Color: 144B to 144C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             summer through late summer.         -   Lastingness of flower on the plant.—Approximately 10 days.         -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 60 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Compound terminal panicle,             self-cleaning. Fragrance: Faint, sweet and pleasant; typical             Phlox paniculata scent. Height: Approximately 8.6 cm. Width:             Approximately 9.4 cm. Quantity of opened flowers per             inflorescence: Approximately 30. Rate of flower opening:             Approximately 20% of the flowers at any stage.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect primary peduncles             with secondary peduncles at approximately a 40° angle.             Length of primary: Approximately 5.6 cm. Diameter of             primary: Approximately 2.5 mm. Length of secondary:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter of secondary: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146B to 146C with             secondary peduncles flushed with N186C. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Shape: Salverform.             Aspect: Upright to outward.         -   Bud just before opening.—Quantity per inflorescence:             Approximately 30. Shape: Narrow oblanceolate. Length:             Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Color:             Petals of 64A to 64B with tube area of N79A to N79B; calyx             N186B with base of 146B to 146C. Rate of opening:             Approximately 4 days.         -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.3 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, lower 60% of each petal fused into a             narrow tube. Arrangement: Rotate. Appearance: Dull. Shape,             lobe: Spathulate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly rounded.             Length: Approximately 3.6 cm. Length of free portion:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.7 cm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color of upper surface             when first open: N66B with N66A at tube opening; tube of             N77B. Color of lower surface when first open: 67B with the             tube of N79A to N79B. Color of upper surface when fully             open: 75B with heavy stripes and marbling of N57B toward the             tube opening; N66A at tube opening; tube of N79D. Color of             lower surface when fully open: 68A to 68B with the tube of             N79A to N79B.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Campanulate. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5, lower 60% fused into a narrow tube.             Arrangement: In a single whorl. Appearance: Moderately             glossy. Shape: Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Narrow             apiculate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth. Color of upper and lower surfaces of immature             sepals: N187B with 146C at base. Color of upper and lower             surfaces of mature sepals: N187B with 146C at base.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect when directly             adjoining peduncle, others at an approximately 60° angle.             Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146B to 146C             flushed with N186C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower, basifixed. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Filament length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Anther color: 8D. Pollen amount: Low to moderate. Pollen             color: 11C to 11D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower.             Pistil length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft             (3-parted). Stigma color: 150B to 150C. Style length:             Approximately 1.7 cm. Style color: 182D. Ovary color: 143A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Good mildew resistance. No particular     resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to     date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Red Caribbean’, substantially as herein shown and described. 